Report: Pirates, Orioles discussed trade for Neil Walker

Though the Pittsburgh Pirates' infield remains in flux - Jung Ho Kang is recovering from major leg surgery and Aramis Ramirez recently retired - the club discussed a trade involving second baseman Neil Walker with the Baltimore Orioles in recent weeks, reports Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune.

Those talks didn't amount to much, Biertempfel notes, as the Pirates' asking price was high, but the club will continue listening to offers for the 30-year-old infielder, who's poised to become a free agent after the 2016 campaign.

Kang underwent surgery in September to repair a fractured left tibial plateau, as well as a torn meniscus and MCL, with an estimated recovery period of six-to-eight months. Though his availability can dramatically alter the Pirates' infield configuration, general manager Neal Huntington stressed that Kang's health status won't affect a potential deal involving Walker.

Related: Pirates GM: Kang's recovery 'gone as well as we could've hoped'

"I think people have tied them more closely together than maybe we will tie them together," Huntington said on 93.7 KDKA-FM.

Walker is projected to earn $10.7 million through arbitration in 2016 despite regressing at the plate this season. After collecting his first career Silver Slugger award in 2014, Walker managed a .756 OPS (107 OPS+) with 16 homers and 32 doubles over 151 games this summer, finishing 12th among second basemen with 2.4 wins above replacement.